Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Port-Louis Theater is once again in the spotlight as is that of the Plaza. Their long overdue renovation is once again topical and will be done without delay, according to the authorities.
It is also up to the latter to consider the following question: “To whom should the management of these two theaters be entrusted?” “, Because renovating the latter is only the first step in reviving the theater in Mauritius.
Let’s take a little trip back in time to discover the history of the Port-Louis Theater, too often neglected and little known to the younger generation.
The Port-Louis Theater is the oldest in the southern hemisphere and dates from the English era. Indeed, the first stone was laid by the first English governor, Sir Robert Farquhar, in 1820.
The architecture is the work of Pierre Poujade, renowned architect of the French colony. Another great man was responsible for the interior decoration, in this case Pierre Thuillier. Sense ?
The inauguration took place on Tuesday, June 11, 1822 in front of a considerable audience under the chairmanship of Governor Farquhar, as Antoine Chelin tells us in his book “The theater in Mauritius”.
The latter also affirms that “this festival was crowned with success and the proceeds amounted to 1,800 piastres; a recipe that until then had never been taken so high in Mauritius.
Since its opening in 1822, the theater has occupied an important place in the life of the people, especially that of the bourgeoisie and the bourgeois of the time. There were shows for all tastes: balls, operas, plays.
It should also be noted that the Théâtre de Port-Louis experienced several closures during its existence, especially during the period of 1892 and 1894 due to a cyclone and a series of epidemics that had hit the island. It reopened at the start of the 20th century.
The Theater rose to popularity thanks to Max Moutia, friend of Robert Edward Hart and Malcolm de Chazal, designer of the Mauritian Quarter Hour Writers at the late Mauritius Broadcasting Service, and his troupe called La troupe Moutia.
Together the troupe has performed in many operas and other pieces including La Veuve Joyeuse, Faust, Valses de Vienne, La Tosca, La Chaste Suzanne, Rêve de Valse, Les cloches de Corneville, Werther, Chanson d’amour, La Vie de Bohême.
, to mention just a few. In 1940, the Theater had to close its doors again because of World War II. It remained closed for seven long years.
After the independence of our island in 1968, the Théâtre de Port-Louis experienced a revival and regained its former glory. Many foreign troops and those from the ground marched there: operas, concerts and musicals.
But if there is one play that stands out that a lot of people still talk about in 2015, it is the play ‘Zozef ek so palto larkansiel’ adapted in Kreol by Dev Virahsawmy and directed by Gérard Sullivan.
The year was 1981. The play has been performed about 40 times, and it sold out! In 1854, the municipal corporation of Port-Louis took possession of it.
After purchasing the Theater, the city authorities took the surprise decision to transform the theater into a cinema. And that’s where Gérard Barry, who was then Curator of the Theater, and other actors stepped in to save this jewel of Mauritian heritage.
The question arises: “Have we said thank you enough? ”
Later, in the 90s, Port-Louis was called upon to develop, to reinvent itself and it is there that the architects Lam Po Tang, Pascale Siew and their team, supported by the Cooperation and Cultural Action Service in Maurice, worked to revive the theater.
They aimed to preserve this cultural heritage and its rich history in order to pass it on to the next generation. Work began in 1993. This remodeling work was intended only to preserve the cultural heritage of Mauritius and the history it contains in order to pass it on to the future.
The architects had to work hard to bring out the originality of the place as it was at the very beginning of the construction of the theater. Apart from the new creations, there were also the many layers of paint.
A rather difficult job for its architects. The architecture of the Port-Louis Theater is Italian-style and one can observe that its original structure has fortunately undergone little change throughout its existence. Since 2008, the theater has been closed for renovation; We have been asked to be patient for seven long years. A sad silence haunts its corridors.
Seven years from the bicentenary celebrations of this jewel of our cultural heritage, we can only express the hope that by 2022 (year of the bicentenary), the Theater will be open again to the delight of theater lovers but also for the children of our children. Let’s also hope that the town hall will find the money required for its renovation. Why not a public-private partnership by the way?
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